Foot control mechanism for motor-vehicles.



Q s. R. M. 0mm. FOOT CONTROL MECHANISM FORfMOTOR VEHICLES.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented 060.20,}914.

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APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 30, 1913.

' Patented 001 20, 1914.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL R. M. DRUM, OF'DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

F001 CONTROL ME GHANIS'M FQRMQIOB-VEHICLES.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. M; ORUM,

a citizen, of the United States, 'iesiding at ,controlling the power and braking of automobiles or motor vehicles, and is particulady-adapted for. auto-trucks and pleasure vehicle'sldriven by electric motors, the prin cipal object being to .provide an improved mechanism. adapted 'tobe operated by the a foot of the driver for'actuating the power controller and also the-brake of the vehicle, whereby both handslof the driver or operator. may be free to manipulate the steering gear. The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the'accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation'of a foot lever mechanism embodying my improvement, and showing the parts in the positionin which the controller has been set forward one notch; Fig. 2, a rear end view showing the controller shaft. and its connections; Fig. 3, a front end view showing the foot lever; Fig. 1, a side, elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing theparts in the normal off position; and Fig.- 5, a similar view showing the parts in the s QPPing or braking position.

motor or motors of the vehicle is regulated by what may be termed a power controller having an o f or neutral position and a plurality of speed positions, as determined by certain notches, to'which it may be advanced ina step-by-step motion by successive short traverses, or oscillations of a pedal or foot lever device, which is also provided with means operated by a longer traverse of the pedal to throw off the controller and apply the brake. v

As shown in the drawings, the power controller shaft, 6, ismounted to rotate in bearings in the frame, 7, and may operate the usual form of electric contacts or other well known devices for regulating the supply of motivefluid to the motors. On thecontroller .shaft is keyed a ratchet. wheel, 8,

having the desired number of.- notches/for Specification of Letters Patent. t t 0 1;, 20, 1 14,,

Application filed August 30, 1913. Serial No. 757,427.

engaging the pawls, the fixed pawl, 9, being pivoted on the-rod, 29, fixed to the frame, and the movable pawl, 10, being pivoted on the pawl carrier, 11, rotatably mounted on the controller shaft. An arm, 12, is also keyed to the controller shaft, and is provided with a rubber cushion, 13, for engaging a rod, 14, fixed in the frame to serve as a stop for the controller in its normal off or neutral position. Means, such as a, spring, 28, is provided for throwing the controller to its off position whenever the pawls are released. A releasing arm, 21,

" having projections, 25 and 26, for engaging the respective pawls, 10 and 9, is also rotatably mounted on the controller shaft.

For the purpose of operating the controller step-by-step, or from one notch'to the next, in turning on the power, and also for throwing off the power whenever desired, I provide a compound foot lever device comprising a member, 19, which may be formed double or bifurcated, and pivoted upon a fulcrum pin, 24, in the frame, and upon which is pivotally mounted the primary foot lever or member, 16, having a pedal, 17, at its upper endand turning upon a pin, 31, as its fulcrum. The lower end of the lever, 1'6, is connected by means of the rod or bar, 15, with the movable pawl carrier, 11, while the lever member, 19, is coupled with the releasing arm, 21, by means of the connecting bar or'bars, 20.

The primary lever member, 16, may be operated upon its fulcrum, 31, through a succession of short traverses, or oscillations to and fro, without moving the lever member, 19, but upon a longer movement of the pedal, the flanges or lugs, 18, of lever, 16, engage the member, 19, and both members then turn as one lever about the fulcrum, 24. The member, 19, is connected by a tension spring, 23, with the pawl, 10, and pawl carrier, 11, and a spring, 27, is attached to.

the pawl, 9. A brake rod, 22, may be pivot ally connected to the pin, 30, to beactuated to apply the brakes of the vehicle by the short travers until the flange, 18, comes in contact with he member, 19, which is the position shownin'Fig. 1. During this movement the bar, 15, turns the pawl carrier, 11, pawl, 10, and ra chet wheel, 8, with the controller forward ne step or notch, in which position the-fixed pawl, 9, drops into the next notch of the ratchet wheel, and holds the controller in its first speed position, as shown in Fig. l. The spring, 23, is stretched during this movement, and when the operator moves his foot and the pedal backward to its first normal position, this spring, 23, acts to return the pawl carrier and pawl, whereupon the pawl drops into the next notch upon the ratchet wheel. By another short traverse of the pedal, the controller s advanced another notch to the neigtspeedposition, and in the same-manner, the controller is operatedstep-by-step through its successive speed positions until it reaches the fourth or full speed position. It will be evident that any number of positions may be provided as desired.

\Vhen it is desired to throw off the power, and stop the vehicle, the driver makes a longer traverse of the pedal, whereby the lever, 19, is actuated to move the releasing arm, 21, so that the'p'rojections, 2b and 26, throw out the pawls, l0 and 3, from engagement with the ratchet wheel, whereupon .the spring, 28, returns the controller. to ofi position, as shown in Fig. 501 the drawing. The controller is released and thrown oi? as soon as the foot lever is moved a short distance beyond its position shown in Fig. 1, and the brake is applied by the further forward push of the pedal to its extrcne forward position, indicatedin Fig. 5. The spring, 23, also serves to return the lever mechanism to its normal position and holds the pawl, 10, in engagement with the test or notches of the ratchet wheel.

The usual brake release spring (not shown) will ordinaril be suiiiciently strong to hold the lever, 19,,against any forward movement during theprelimi-nary forward movements of the lever, 16, in advancing the controller step-by-step, and thus prevent a premature or accidental release of the pawls during such movements. If preferred, however, any such movement of 'lever,

, 15), may be positively prevented by the use of a locking means, such as an arm, 32, having a projection, 33, on lever, 16, and adapted to cooperate with he curved stop plate, 34', to permit the free :eliminary movement of lever, 16, but prevent the forward movement of lever, 19, until lever, 16, reaches the position indicated in F ig. 1, in which the projection, 33, clears the stop plate, 34, and permits the further traverse of the foot lover mechanism. I

It will now be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient mechanism operated by the foot of the driver, through a series of short traverses, for advancing the power controller step-by-step 'to' any speed position A desired, and-bye furthery'or longer traverse, to quickly throvved the power and apply the brakes with an desired de'grce'of force thus giving the. river perfect control 0 the vehicle, ahd at the same time leaving both hands free to manipulate the steering gear.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Let I ters Patent .is: v

1. In a control mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination of a power controller device havingaseries of positions, a

t'ootlever device having connections forzidferent positions by successive short traverses of the foot lever, and means operated by a longer traverse of said footxde'vice'for re turning thecontroller to ages position.

.2. In a control mechanism for motor vehicles the combination of a power con-- I troller device havingxa series of positions, a

foot lever device having connections for advancing the controller step-by-stepv to its successive short the controller by-step, and means operated by the other lever membcr'for throwing off the controller.

4. In a control mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination of a power controller device, a compound foot lever device having two memberaineans connected to one member for advancing the controller stepby-stcp, a brake device, and means operated by the, other lever member for throwing oil 1 the controller "and applying the brake.

5. In a control mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination of. a power econ: 'trollcr device, a foot lever device comprising-- a member having a fixed. fulcrum, another.

lever member pivoted upon; the first and movable independently thereof during short traverses and coincidentally therewith upon I a longer traverse, means connected to the second lever member for advancmg the controller step-by-step,and means o crated by the first lever member :for throwmg'oif the controller. I I

6. 1n a control. mechanism for. motor velncles,.thc combination ofa powercontroller device, a pawl and ratchet device for advancing the controller step-by-step, fa pedal device having a short traverse for actuating the ratchet, and means, operated by a longer traverse of the pedal for re leasing the pawl.

7.111 a control' mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination of a power controller device, a ratchet Wheel mounted on the controller shaft, a pawl carrier and pawl for advancing the controller step-by-step,

means normally tending to move the con troller to its off position, a fixed pawl for holding the controller, a pedal device having a connection for actuating the pawl carrier during short traverses, and means operated by a longer traverse of the pedal for releasing the pawls.

8. In a control mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination of a power controller device, a pawl and ratchet device for advancing the controller step-by-step, a pedal device having a short traverse for actuating the ratchet, a brake device,'and means operated by a longer traverse of the pedal for releasing the pawl and applying the brake.

. SAMUEL R. M. ORUM.

Witnesses: JOSEPHINE M. ORUM, AGNES M. KARRER. 

